The European Shorthair cat has quite aa long and complicated history. Its origin is surrounded by many mysteries and contradictions. The first mention of this breed can be traced back to the time when Egyptian cats began to spread across Europe. And, like most modern breeds, the European "purring" is a direct descendant of African steppe cats.
History of the breed
The first standard of the European cat was createdfor living at home, was discovered around 140 BC. There is a record of this in the laws of one of the Welsh kings. And the appearance of this animal as a breed originates in England, where at the end of the 18th century these cats began to appear at exhibitions. A little later, they began to breed in France and Germany. Over time, the European shorthaired breed was divided into two separate branches, since breeders from different countries were not satisfied with the appearance of the animal, and each tried to contribute something of their own. For example, the British tried to breed a cat of a heavy type and loose structure. This is how the British breed with soft and plush fur, beloved by many cat lovers, appeared. But the French and Germans, on the contrary, sought a more muscular and strong build, smooth and shiny fur. They gave the world the European shorthaired breed that we know today. The popularity of this breed quickly grew, but also quickly disappeared. The reason for this was the fact that the European cat is very similar to an ordinary yard cat. So why spend money on something you can get for free - this was the argument of potential buyers. In connection with this, breeders also stopped paying attention to the European breed and switched to other, more popular species. Only in Finland is this breed still treated with love. It ranks third in popularity in the country.
What is she, a real European cat?
Despite the fact that fame and popularityEuropean shorthair has completely dried up, true experts of this breed claim that the resemblance to the usual "Murka" is not as strong as it may seem to a non-professional. There are more than enough differences, starting from the physiological structure and ending with the character and preferences. And they are united only by the color and length of the coat. A real European shorthair cat has a standard build:
- Body of a large or medium structure
- Strong musculature
- Well-developed thorax
- Medium-sized limbs and round paws
- Not very long tail, which expands in the middle and narrows to the tip
- Slightly rounded head - in length it is slightly larger than in width
- Straight and well-pronounced nose, wide along the entire length
- Small, widely spaced ears with rounded tips
- Round eyes, planted slightly obliquely. The color is different and depends on the color
It is based on this data that experts determinebreed. And to recognize it among many similar cats, you can only thoroughly study all the necessary standards. The variety of color variations of the European cat gives room for choice. Tricolor, black, striped, spotted, two-color. Only chocolate and lilac shades are not available. The rarest and most beautiful cats are considered to be those with a golden shade of fur, there are very few of them in our country. The structure of the fur deserves special attention. When buying a European cat, make sure that its fur is shiny and shimmering, you just want to stroke it. The fur is glossy, fits tightly to the body and is very pleasant to the touch. Experts say that you can recognize a European cat just by looking at its muzzle. Thanks to its origin, this breed has no shortage of nobility and charm.
Character and preferences
If you have a European one in your homeshort-haired cat, she will not show her character right away. Among strangers, the animal gets lost, does not know how to behave and tries to find a more secluded corner. Natural modesty plays a role here. The cat can choose anything as her refuge: a pillow, an ordinary bag, a blanket. It is noteworthy that when restless, her ears and the tip of her nose turn red, and the pads of her paws become wet. When your pet gets comfortable and gets acquainted with all the members of the family, all modesty disappears as if by magic. She will play with everything that comes her way, jump on the curtains, grab your legs. Such a playful character accompanies the European woman throughout her life. Many owners of this breed claim that the European shorthaired cat can talk. And if you become a real mistress and friend for her, you will definitely understand what she wants to say. The saying - "the cat walks by itself" does not apply to the European woman at all. Only in the absence of the owner can she allow herself to do this. But when there is a person nearby who loves her and cares for her, she will never leave him alone. Even if something scares her. She gets along well with children, and thanks to her tactfulness, she never releases her claws. If she is unhappy with something, she can only hiss, but she is unlikely to bite or scratch.
How to care
Care for the European is kept to a minimum.It does not need frequent combing, for this procedure it is best to use a metal brush, since plastic electrifies and brings discomfort to the animal. If your pet does not participate in exhibitions, you can skip bathing it. The cat will cope with this simple task on its own. If it does participate, wash it occasionally. But not right before the exhibition, since after washing the fur loses its "oily" appearance, which is very important for the jury, and is restored only after a few days. You need to feed the European shorthair, like any other breed, only high-quality products. This is the only way you will get a healthy animal that will delight you with its presence for many years. Do not forget that you should not give preference to dry food only, since this can lead to various diseases. Let your pet's diet also include natural products: meat, fish, liver, vegetables. By the way, due to the fact that professional pet food is shamelessly expensive, natural feeding will cost you several times cheaper. We recommend reading:
